Closure plate, and a slide closure on the spout of a container containing molten metal

ABSTRACT

In a closure plate for a slide closure on the spout of a container containing molten metal two outer longitudinal sides, a flow-through opening ( 21 ) disposed on a central longitudinal axis (A) of the closure plate ( 20 ) and a closing surface (S) passing from the latter are provided. There are formed on each of these two outer longitudinal sides at least two shoulder surfaces ( 20   a,    20   b ) serving as clamping surfaces or as centring surfaces of the closure plate ( 20 ) which are at an angle (α, β) to the longitudinal axis forming tapering of the plate. At least on the shoulder surfaces ( 20   a ) on the side of the closing surface (S) adjoining outer sides ( 20   c;    30   c ) are provided which are respectively at a smaller angle (γ) to the longitudinal axis (A) than those of the shoulder surfaces ( 20   a ).

The invention relates to a closure plate for a slide closure on the spout of a container containing molten metal in which two outer longitudinal sides, a flow-through opening disposed on a central longitudinal axis of the closure plate and a closing surface passing from the latter are provided; and a slide closure for the latter.

Generic closure plates in a slide closure are used for opening and closing the passage of molten metal. The closure plates respectively provided with a flow-through opening are therefore pressed against one another such as to form a seal, and by means of a drive the one closure plate can be moved over a defined distance from the open into a closed position and vice versa. Thus, both on the upper fixed and on the moveable closure plate closing surfaces are formed, the length of which corresponds to the adjustment distance. The closure plates are either clamped into the mechanism of the slide closure, as provided in a slide closure according to publication DE-A-35 22 134, or else are inserted in the mechanism with practically no play, as displayed by the plates disclosed in publication EP-A-1 064 155.

The object underlying the present invention is to provide a closure plate of the type mentioned at the start which, in particular with clamping on the outside, is provided with minimum dimensions and optimal clamping so that the closure plate offers a high level of reliability during operation when the closure is closed, and the outer plate dimensions are thereby, however, kept to a minimum in relation to the diameter of the flow-through opening.

According to the invention, the object is achieved according to the features of Claim 1.

In its embodiment according to the invention, this closure plate can have minimal dimensions because by means of these at least two shoulder surfaces in the form of clamping surfaces on each of the two outer longitudinal sides, optimal clamping of the closure plate can be achieved. Since these shoulder surfaces form tapering of the plate, the closure plate can have minimal dimensions. That these outer sides adjoining the side of the closing surface at the clamping surfaces and forming the plate end respectively have a smaller angle than that of the shoulder surfaces, sufficient reliability is guaranteed, even with repeated use of the closure plates.

Exemplary embodiments and further advantages of the invention are described in more detail using the drawings. These show as follows:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a diagrammatically illustrated slide closure and the closure plates fastened in the latter,

FIG. 2 is a top view of a closure plate according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is a top view of a variant of a closure plate,

FIG. 4 is a top view of a further variant of a closure plate, and

FIG. 5 is a top view of a fourth variant of a closure plate.

FIG. 1 shows a section of a slide closure 10 mounted on a container, only the outer steel jacket 11 with a centring ring 14, a fire-proof inlet sleeve 13 forming the container outlet 13 and a fire-proof lining 12 of the container being indicated. A pan of a continuous casting plant that can be filled with molten steel is normally provided as the container. Needless to say, however, this can be a container holding any molten metal.

Adjoining this inlet sleeve 13, forming a seal, is an upper fire-proof closure plate 20 fastened in the housing 14 of the slide closure 10 and which is in sliding contact with a moveable fire-proof closure plate 22 in a slider unit (not detailed), the slider unit being moveable to and fro by a drive, and moreover being fastenable on the housing 14 by clamping components (not shown). Furthermore, there is adjoining the moveable closure plate 22 another fire-proof spout sleeve 16.

FIG. 2 shows the closure plate 20 which consists of a sheet metal jacket 23 and a fire-proof plate 20′ mortared in the latter. It has two outer longitudinal sides, a flow-through opening 21 disposed on a central longitudinal axis A and a closing surface S passing from the latter. This closing surface S is defined by the diameter of the flow-through opening of the opposite closure plate and by the adjustment distance of the slider unit. In FIG. 1 the slide closure 10 is in the closed position in which the end of the closing surface of the lower moveable closure plate 22 is covered by the flow-through opening 21 of the upper closure plate 20.

According to the invention there are formed on each of these two outer longitudinal sides of the closure plate 20 two shoulder surfaces 20 a, 20 b serving as clamping surfaces or as centring surfaces which are at an angle α, β to the longitudinal axis A and thereby form tapering of the plate. Moreover, the outer sides 20 c, which adjoin the shoulder surfaces 20 a located on the side of the closing surface S, are respectively at a smaller angle γ to the longitudinal axis than those of the shoulder surfaces 20 a.

In the present exemplary embodiment, these angles α, β on the longitudinal sides of the closure plate 20 have the same dimensions, namely approx. 20°. However, the angle γ of the respective outer side 20 c is preferably between 0 and 20°, in this case approx. 5°. In relation to the longitudinal axis A the closure plate 20 is, furthermore, symmetrical in form, whereby there are the same angles and the same dimensions on both longitudinal sides.

These shoulder surfaces 20 a, 20 b of the closure plate 20 provided at an angle α, β to the longitudinal axis A are positioned a distance 27 a, 27 b away from the transverse axis of the flow-through opening 21. The clamping elements 17 a, 17 b acting on the shoulder surfaces 20 a, 20 b in the operating state, and which form part of the slide closure 10, and so are indicated by dots and dashes, generate a resulting clamping force line 25 a, 25 b extending perpendicular to the respective shoulder surface 20 a, 20 b towards the centre of the plate and which intersects the longitudinal axis A at the intersection point 26 a, 26 b.

Advantageously, within the framework of the invention the intersection point 26 a, 26 b formed by this respective clamping force line 25 a, 25 b and longitudinal axis A lies a specific distance 27 a, 27 b away from the outer diameter of the flow-through opening 21. This distance generally corresponds to maximum twice the diameter of the flow-through opening 21 and is larger on the side of the closing surface S than on the opposite side. In FIG. 2 this distance is illustrated as smaller than this diameter of the flow-through opening.

This distance 27 a, 27 b between the shoulder surfaces 20 a, 20 b and the transverse axis of the flow-through opening 21 gives a considerable advantage in that the clamping forces acting in the region around the flow-through opening and the cracks occurring in the fire-proof material around the flow-through opening due to the thermal load do not lead to breakage of the fire-proof material. This crack formation in the fire-proof plate 20′ can, however, be specifically influenced by this clamping according to the invention so that the durability of the plate is critically improved.

Furthermore, the ends of the closure plate 20 are respectively formed in the conventional manner by two radii which respectively pass from the outer side 20 c or from the shoulder surface 20 b. Moreover, the outer longitudinal sides in the region 28 between the shoulder surfaces are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis. In principle the latter could also be oval or similar in shape.

FIG. 3 shows a closure plate 30 consisting of a plate and a sheet metal jacket which is similar in form to that of FIG. 2, and so in the following only the differences will be described. Two shoulder surfaces 30 a, 30 b are in turn respectively assigned to both outer longitudinal sides, symmetrically to the longitudinal axis A. Adjoining the two shoulder surfaces 30 b on the side facing away from the closing surface S, outer sides 30 d are provided which are respectively at a smaller angle to the longitudinal axis A than those of the shoulder surfaces 30 b. These outer sides 30 d extend, like the opposite outer sides 30 c adjoining the shoulder surfaces 30 a, approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis A. These outer sides 30 c, 30 d to both sides of the shoulder surfaces form a level plate width. The two ends on the closure plate are respectively semi-circular in shape.

The closure plate 40 according to FIG. 4 is in turn similar in form to that according to FIG. 2, and the differences are displayed below. The shoulder surfaces 40 a are not formed as straight surfaces, but as round surfaces. The radius 40 r is chosen here such that it practically forms the radius of the plate end 40 e. The closure plate 40 could thus be inserted into a circular recess in the mechanism of the slide closure without clamping taking place.

FIG. 5 shows a closure plate 50 in which, as a special feature, the shoulder surfaces 50 a, 50 b are arranged on the outer longitudinal sides at right angles to the longitudinal axis A so that these angles α, β are 90°. These shoulder surfaces 50 a, 50 b are preferably dimensioned with a short length of just a few millimetres, whereas in the above variants the shoulder surfaces respectively have a length of preferably 30 to 100 mm. This closure plate 50 is especially suitable for being inserted, with practically no play and without clamping, into the mechanism of the slide closure. In the mechanism corresponding recesses would have to be provided in which these centring shoulders 51 with the shoulder surfaces 50 a, 50 b formed on the latter would be accommodated with practically no play. The centring shoulders 51 with their shoulder surfaces 50 a, 50 b are formed by the sheet metal jacket 52 surrounding the fire-proof plate 50′.

These shoulder surfaces 50 a, 50 b, preferably dimensioned with a short length of just a few millimetres, could, however, also be formed at less than 90° to the longitudinal axis A.

The invention is sufficiently demonstrated by the above exemplary embodiments. Further variants could also be provided, however. Thus, for example, instead of a sheet metal jacket, just a sheet metal collar surrounding the plate could be inserted, or the plate could also be inserted directly into the mechanism of the slide closure and, if appropriate, be clamped within the latter.

Theoretically, at least one of the shoulder surfaces on the one longitudinal side could be of a different length to the corresponding one on the other longitudinal side or could be provided at a different angle. This could offer the advantage that when the closure plates are turned after the container has been emptied a specific number of times, and so the rear side becomes the sliding side, the latter can first of all be used as the slider plate, and after turning only as the base plate. 

1. A closure plate for a slide closure on the spout of a container containing molten metal in which two outer longitudinal sides, a flow-through opening (21, 31) disposed on a central longitudinal axis (A) of the closure plate (20, 30, 40, 50) and a closing surface (S) passing from the latter are provided, characterised in that there are formed on each of these two outer longitudinal sides at least two shoulder surfaces (20 a, 20 b; 30 a, 30 b; 40 a, 40 b; 50 a, 50 b) serving as clamping surfaces or as centring surfaces of the closure plate (20, 30, 40, 50) which are at an angle (α, β) to the longitudinal axis (A) forming tapering of the plate, and that at least on the shoulder surfaces (20 a; 30 a; 40 a; 50 a) on the side of the closing surface (S) adjoining outer sides (20 c; 30 c) are provided which are respectively at a smaller angle (γ) to the longitudinal axis (A) than those of the shoulder surfaces (20 a; 30 a; 40 a; 50 a), or are arranged approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis.
 2. The closure plate according to claim 1, characterised in that the shoulder surfaces (20 a, 20 b) are provided at such an angle (α, β) to the longitudinal axis (A) and are positioned a distance (27 a, 27 b) from the flow-through opening (21,) such that the clamping elements or bearings acting on the shoulder surfaces (20 a, 20 b) in the operating state generate a resulting clamping force line (25 a, 25 b) perpendicular to the respective shoulder surface (20 a, 20 b) towards the centre of the plate, the intersection point (26 a, 26 b) formed by this clamping force line (25 a, 25 b) and the longitudinal axis (A) lying a specific distance away from the outer diameter of the flow-through opening (21).
 3. The closure plate according to claim 2, characterised in that this distance between the intersection point (26 a, 26 b) and the outer diameter of the flow-through opening (21,) corresponds to maximum twice the diameter of the flow-through opening.
 4. The closure plate according to claim 2, characterised in that this distance between the intersection point (26 a, 26 b) and the outer diameter of the flow-through opening (21,) is smaller than the diameter of the flow-through opening, and on the side of the closing surface S has greater dimensions than opposite the flow-through opening.
 5. The closure plate according to claim 1, characterised in that adjoining the two shoulder surfaces (30 b) of a closure plate (30) on the side facing away from the closure surface (S) outer sides (30 d) are provided which are respectively at a smaller angle to the longitudinal axis (A) than those of the shoulder surfaces (30 b) or are arranged approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis.
 6. The closure plate according to claim 1, characterised in that shoulder surfaces (40 a) of a closure plate (40) are straight, round, oval or of some other shape, at least on the side of the closing surface (S).
 7. The closure plate according to claim 1, characterised in that the shoulder surfaces (40 a) are in the form of round surfaces, at least on the side of the closing surface (S), with which a radius (40 r)is chosen such that it practically forms the radius of the plate end (40 e).
 8. The closure plate according to claim 1, characterised in that in a closure plate (50) centring shoulders (51) with shoulder surfaces (50 a, 50 b) are provided which on the outer longitudinal sides are arranged at right angles to the longitudinal axis (A) and are preferably dimensioned with a short length of just a few millimetres.
 9. A slide closure, comprising at least one metal frame for accommodating a closure plate (20, 30, 40) according to claim 1, characterised in that there are arranged in the metal frame a number of clamping elements (17 a, 17 b) such that the closure plates (20, 30, 40) can be clamped securely in the latter on the shoulder surfaces (20 a; 30 a; 40 a).
 10. The slide closure according to claim 9, characterised in that instead of clamping elements, there are at least two recesses with centring surfaces in the metal frame into which the closure plate (20, 30, 40, 50) can be inserted with practically no play. 